Team Herald
MARGAO: From September this year, television viewers at least in Goa, will have to pay more to watch the paid channels as Goa being fully digitalised since March 31, 2017 when analog connections were totally disconnected.
The problem came up in Salcete as those using NXT Digital have stopped receiving any of the Sony channels and hence local cable operators (LCO) have to face the public ire, who have paid for the channels for the whole year.
South Goa Collector Swapnil Naik today had a meeting with the LCO to find out their problems where around 35 operators complained that only those who are associated with NXT Digital have stopped getting Sony channels while other LCOs connected with other multi- system operators like GDN, BRDS or Citi Cable continue to get so.
They alleged that NXT Digital must be having some problem with Sony Entertainment because of which the channels have been stopped and asserted that the LCO should not be victimised for the company’s failure.
However, Manoj Upadhye Manager of Indusind Media and Communication Ltd that owns NXT Digital clarified that following a Supreme Court order, the television programme producers have now fixed tariff for each channel from September and this will put an end to the present system of offering channels at bouquet rates.
“Each channel was till now offering a bouquet rate for their channels which was collected from the viewer,” he said adding that henceforth each channel will have a separate rate. The government has already finalised the rate of Rs 125 for ‘free to air’ channels and the government will further decide which channels will be free to air,” he said.
